Door jamb straightedge bracket



Jan. 31, 1961 c. H. SONGER 2,9 5

DOOR JAMB STRAIGHTEDGE BRACKET 7 Filed March 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- Fig. 2

Jan. 31, 1961 c, SONGER 2,969,595

DOOR JAMB STRAIGHTEDGE BRACKET Filed March 2. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3 20 68 74 Charles H. Sanger INVENTOR.

BY WW 5% Patented Jan. 31, 1961 DOOR JAMB STRAIGHTEDGE BRACKET Charles H. Songer, 1504 W. 26th St., Pine Bluff, Ark.

Filed Mar. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 796,397

8 Claims. (Cl. 33-85) This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in accessories for building construction, and more particularly to a door jamb straightedge bracket.

In the finishing of houses and other types of building, when an archway or the like is to be defined, a plaster ground is utilized to define the archway or doorway. On the other hand, when tile is being placed on a wall in the area of the doorway, for example in the formation of a shower, there is no guide for the mechanic to follow. Hence, the tile is placed directly over the plaster or mortar and unless the mortar is accurately placed, particularly in the vicinity of the doorway leading into the shower, the tile will not be accurately placed and as a result it is often necessary to tear out a large amount of the tile and to replace it.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a novel door jamb straightedge bracket which may be mounted in a doorway and be utilized as a guide for the application of mortar in the vicinity of the doorway so that the mortar may be accurately placed prior to the setting of the tile around the doorway so that when the tile is set it will also be accurately placed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a door jamb straightedge bracket which includes an upper clamp and a lower clamp and which clamps have extending therebetween a pair of elongated straightedges, the straightedges being in the form of angle members which are supported by pivot pins whereby the angle members may be rotated so that they may define surfaces at right angles to each other thus facilitating the application of mortar to a doorway jamb both along the jamb and along the walls on opposite sides of the jamb with one setting of the bracket.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved door jamb straightedge bracket which is so constructed that it may be utilized in conjunction with walls of varying thickness, the bracket including a pair of clamps each of which includes a movable clamp member and the movable clamp member supporting one of the straightedges so that as the movable clamp member is adjusted to compensate for the variation in the thickness of the wall, the one straightedge will be moved likewise.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved door jamb straightedge bracket, the bracket including an upper and lower clamp and a pair of straightedges extending between the clamps, each of the clamps being formed of a fixed clamp member and a movable clamp member, the fixed clamp member being generally L-shaped in outline and including a short leg and a long leg, the long leg being in the form of a trackway for the movable clamp member so that the movable clamp member may cooperate with the short leg and clamp a wall therebetween.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the interior of a bathroom and shows the door jamb straightedge bracket in position for finishing the application of mortar around a doorway into a shower of the bathroom;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and shows the relationship of the straightedges with respect to the wall, the straightedges being shown in rotated position by dotted lines;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the door jamb straightedge bracket and shows generally the details thereof, intermediate portions of the straightedges being broken away;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view taken through one of the clamp members and shows the relationship of the clamp member with respect to a wall, a portion of the clamp member being broken away and shown in section in order to more clearly illustrate the details of the clamp member;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the relationship of the straightedges with respect to one of the clamp members;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of Figure 4 and shows further the details of one of the clamp members and relationship of the clamp member with respect to one of the straightedges; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 77 of Figure 6 and shows the connection between a pivot pin and one of the straightedges.

In Figure 1 of the drawings there is illustrated a portion of the interior of a bathroom which is referred to generally by the numeral 10. The bathroom 10 has incorporated therein a shower 12 which is partially defined by a wall 14 of the bathroom 10. Access to the shower 12 is had through a doorway 16 in the wall 14. However, unlike ordinary doorways, the doorway 16 will not be provided with a door frame which latter is customarily used to cover any defects in the finish of the wall in the vicinity of the doorway. In the finishing of the bathroom 10, ceramic tile or other types of tile will be applied to 'all of the walls and to the surfaces defining the doorway 16. Prior to the application of the tile, it is necessary that mortar be applied to the walls, including the wall 14 around the doorway 16. Unless the mortar is accurately applied, the tile will not be properly placed inasmuch as the tile is placed directly over the mortar with a thin layer of cement between the tile and mortar. Since the mechanic will find the mortar has no gauge to follow around the doorway 16, in many instances, the mortar is improperly applied with a result that when the tile is applied around the doorway 16, the job is an improper one and it is necessary to tear out much of the tile and to reapply the mortar in the area to the doorway.

In order to facilitate the accurate placing of the mortar on the wall 14 around the doorway 1.6, there has been devised the present invention which is in the form of a door jamb straightedge bracket generally referred to by the numeral 18. The bracket 18 is formed of an upper clamp generally referred to by the numeral 20 and the lower clamp generally referred to by the numeral 22. Extending between the clamps 2.0 and 22 are straightedges generally referred to by the numerals 24 and 26.

The clamps 20 and 22 are identical and while they have been given separate reference numerals to identify the individual clamps, the individual components of the two clamps 20 and 22 will be given the same numerals to avoid confusion. Each of the clamps 20 and 22 includes, see Figure 5 in particular, a fixed clamp member generally referred to by the numeral 28 and a movable clamp member generally referred to by the numeral 30. The fixed clamp member 28 is generally L-shaped in outline and includes a short leg 32 and a long leg 34 disposedat right angles to each other. Each of the legs 32 and 34 is of a channel-shaped cross-section and in the connection between the legs 32 and 34 there is provided a fillet 36. The fillet 36 has a vertical bore 38 therethrough to facilitate the mounting of one of the straightedges in a manner to be described with more detail hereinafter. It is to be noted that the short leg 32 projects inwardly of the fillet 36 (Figure 4) so that the clamps 20 and 22 may be engaged with unfinished wall portions.

The movable clamp member 30 is also L-shaped in outline and includes a base leg 40 and an offset leg 42 which is disposed parallel to the leg 32. Carried by the leg 42 generally in alignment with the base leg 40, but on the opposite sides of the leg 42 therefrom is an extension 44 having a vertical bore 46 therethrough for the reception of mounting means for the other of the straightedges. Also carried by the leg 42 is a clamping screw 46 which is threadedly passed through the leg 42 and which is provided at one end thereof with a wing type head 48 to facilitate the turning thereof. The opposite end of the clamping screw 46 is provided with a head or pad 50 which opposes the leg 32 and is intended for the clamping of a wall in cooperation with the leg 32.

The leg 34, as is best shown in Figure 6, has an upstanding web and a pair of flanges. The web of the leg 34 is provided with an elongated slot remote from the leg 32, the slot being referred to by the numeral 52. Passing through the slot 52 is a plurality of fasteners 54 which serve to secure the base leg 46 to an L-shaped feed member 56.

Extending in an opposite direction from the leg 32, in alignment with the leg 32 at the end of the leg 34 is an ear 58. Passing through the car 58 is a feed screw 60 which is threadedly engaged in a portion of the feed member 56. The feed screw 60 is provided with a wingtype head 62 whereby the feed screw 60 may be rotated so as to move the movable clamp member 30 towards or away from the leg 32. In this manner, the spacing between the bores 38 and 46 may be varied so as to position the straight edges 24 and 26 at the desired distance. As shown by Figs. 1 and straightedge 24 can be carried by the fixed clamps and straightedge 26 can be carried by the movable clamps.

The straightedge 24 is in the form of an angle member which includes a pair of flanges 64 and 66 disposed at right angles to each other. Disposed at the upper and lower ends of the straightedge 24 are pivot pins 68 which are received in the bores 38. The straightedge 26 is identical with the straightedge 24 with exception that that straightedges 24 and 26 are right and left. The straightedge 26 includes a flange 7i) and a flange 72 which are disposed at right angles to each other. Extending from opposite ends of the straightedge 26 are pivot pins 74 which are received in the bores 46.

Reference is now had to Figure 7 wherein the relationship between one of the pivot pins 74 and the flanges 70 and 72 is illustrated. It is to be noted that the outer surfaces of the flanges 70 and 72 intersect along a line which is co-extensive with the axis of the pivot pin 74. With this arrangement the straightedge 26 may be rotated so as to define any one of a desired number of finishing surfaces without disassembling the bracket 18. For example, as is shown in Figure 2, the flange 72 may be positioned to define the outer surface of the wall 14 within the shower 12. Then after the outer surface of the wall 14 has been finished by the application of mortar, the straightedge 26 may be rotated to its dotted line position of Figure 2 wherein the flange 70 now defines the edge of the wall 14, which surface is the jamb of the doorway 16. The relationship between the straightedge 24 and the pivot pin 68 is the same as that between the straightedge 26 and the pivot pin 74 so that the straightedge 74 may be pivoted in the same manner as described above.

In the use of the bracket 18, the thickness of the wall is determined and the movable clamp member 30 is adjusted with respect to the fixed clamp member 28. Then the clamps 20 and 22 are applied to the wall 14 adjacent the top and bottom of the doorway 16. The clamps 20 and 22 are clamped to the partially finished wall 14 by means of the clamp screws 46. At this time it is pointed out that prior to the installation of the clamps 20 and 22, the straightedges 24 and 26 have been assembled with the clamps 20 and 22 so that the entire bracket 18 is applied at one time. The straightedges 24 and 26 are then set as shown by solid lines in Figure 2 and the exterior surface of the wall 14 is finished except in the areas occupied by the clamps 2t) and 22. Then the straightedges 24 and 26 are rotated to their dotted line position of Figure 2 and the jamb of the doorway 14 is finished with the application of mortar. After this has been accomplished, the bracket 18 is moved and the previously applied mortar may be used for a guide for finishing the upper and lower parts of the door in the vicinity of the doorway. In this maner the mortar about the doorway 16 may be accurately applied and the wall 14 is now ready for the application of tile, which tile, when set, will be accurate and will not require being torn out from the doorway 16.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there has been devised a very simple type of bracket which may be easily installed by the mechanic prior to the application of the mortar and that once the bracket has been installed and plumbed, the mechanic may readily apply the mortar accurately to the wall in the area of the door jamb so that when the tile is placed on the wall and the door jamb, the tile will be accurately positioned. Although the invention has been primarily intended for the application of mortar prior to the setting of tile, in cases where no plaster ground are to be applied and the mechanic has no guides in the vicinity of doorways or windows, the bracket 18 would find application for the finishing of plaster.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A door jamb straightedge bracket for use in applying plaster and tile about a door jamb, said bracket comprising an upper clamp and a lower clamp for clamping engagement with a wall structure, and a pair of straightedges extending between and supported by said upper and lower clamps, each of said straightedges being in the form of an angle member having a pair of intersecting flanges disposed at right angles to each other, means pivotally mounting said straightedges upon said upper and lower clamps for pivotal movement about axes lying along the line of intersection of said flanges whereby said flanges may be positioned to lie in planes and thus define surfaces which are at right angles to each other.

2. A door jamb straightedge bracket for use in applying plaster and tile about a door jamb, said bracket comprising an upper clamp and a lower clamp for clamping engagement with a wall structure, and a pair of straightedges extending between and supported by said upper and lower clamps, each of said straightedges being in the form of an angle member having a pair of flanges disposed at right angles to each other, and pivot pins at opposite ends of said angle members pivotally mounting said angle members relative to said upper and lower clamps whereby said straightedges may be used for defining surfaces at right angles to each other.

3. A door jamb straightedge bracket for use in applying plaster and tile about a door jamb, said bracket comprising an upper clamp and a lower clamp for clamping engagement with a wall structure, and a pair of straightedges extending between and supported by said upper and lower clamps, each of said straightedges being in the form of an angle member having a pair of flanges disposed at right angles to each other, and pivot pins at opposite ends of said angle members pivotally mounting said angle members relative to said upper and lower clamps whereby said straightedges may be used for defining surfaces at right angles to each other, said pivot pins of each of said angle members having aligned axes, said axes extending along the intersection of outer faces of said flanges.

4. A door jamb straightedge bracket for use in applying plaster and tile about a door jamb, said bracket comprising an upper clamp and a lower clamp for clamping engagement with a wall structure, and a pair of straightedges extending between and supported by said upper and lower clamps, each of said straightedges being in the form of an angle member having a pair of intersecting flanges disposed at right angles to each other, means pivotally mounting said straightedges upon said upper and lower clamps for pivotal movement about axes lying along the line of intersection of said flanges whereby said flanges may be positioned to lie in planes and thus define surfaces which are at right angles to each other, said clamps each including a fixed clamp member and a movable clamp member, means adjustably securing said movable clamp member to said fixed clamp member.

5. A door jamb straightedge bracket for use in applying plaster and tile about a door jamb, said bracket comprising an upper clamp and a lower clamp for clamping engagement with a wall structure, and a pair of straightedges extending between and supported by said upper and lower clamps, said clamps each including a fixed clamp member and a movable clamp member, means adjustably securing said movable clamp member to said fixed clamp member, one of said straightedges being carried by said fixed clamp members and the other of said straightedges being carried by said movable clamp members, each of said straightedges being in the form of an angle member having a. pair of intersecting flanges disposed at right angles to each other, means pivotally mounting said straightedges upon said upper and lower clamps for pivotal movement about axes lying along the line of intersection of said flanges whereby said flanges may be positioned to lie in planes and thus define surfaces which are at right angles to each other.

6. A door jamb straightedge bracket for use in applying plaster and tile about a door jamb, said bracket comprising an upper clamp and a lower clamp for clamping engagement with a wall structure, and a pair of straightedges extending between and supported by said upper and lower clamps, said clamps each including a fixed clamp member and a movable clamp member, means adjustably securing said movable clamp member to said fixed clamp member, one of said straightedges being carried by said fixed clamp members and the other of said straightedges being carried by said movable clamp members, said straightedges being in the form of an angle member having a pair of flanges disposed at right angles to each other, and pivot pins at opposite ends of said angle members pivotally mounting said angle members relative to said upper and lower clamps whereby said straightedge may be used for defining surfaces at right angles to each other.

7. A door jamb straightedge bracket for use in applying plaster and tile about a door jamb, said bracket comprising an upper clamp and a lower clamp for clamping engagement with a wall structure, and a pair of straightedges extending between and supported by said upper and lower clamps, said clamps each including a fixed clamp member and a movable clamp member, means adjustably securing said movable clamp member to said fixed clamp member, said fixed clamp member being generally L- shaped and including a short leg and a long leg, said short leg being in the form of a fixed clamp element, means carried by said long leg adjustably supporting said movable clamp member, one of said straightedges being carried by said fixed clamp members and the other of said straightedges being carried by said movable clamp members, each of said straightedges being in the form of an angle member having a pair of intersecting flanges disposed at right angles to each other, means pivotally mounting said straightedges upon said upper and lower clamps for pivotal movement about axes lying along the line of intersection of said flanges whereby said flanges may be positioned to lie in planes and thus define surfaces which are at right angles to each other.

8. A door jamb straightedge bracket for use in applying plaster and tile about a door jamb, said bracket comprising an upper clamp and a lower clamp for clamping engagement with a wall structure, and a pair of straightedges extending between and supported by said upper and lower clamps, said clamps each including a fixed clamp member and a movable clamp member, means adjustably securing said movable clamp member to said fixed clamp member, said fixed clamp member being generally L-shaped and including a short leg and a long leg, said short leg being in the form of a fixed clamp element, means carried by said long leg adjustably supporting said movable clamp member, said long leg being in the form of a track, a feed screw extending along said long leg and threadedly engaged in said fixed clamp member, one of said straightedges being carried by said fixed clamp members and the other of said straightedges being carried by said movable clamp members, each of said straightedges being in the form of an angle member having a pair of intersecting flanges disposed at right angles to each other, means pivotally mounting said straightedges upon said upper and lower clamps for pivotal movement about axes lying along the line of intersection of said flanges whereby said flanges may be positioned to lie in planes and thus define surfaces which are at right angles to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,651,712 Karelius Dec. 6, 1927 1,777,742 Biggin Oct. 7, 1930 1,852,446 Cattell Apr. 5, 1932 2,642,736 Peper et a1 June 23, 1953 

